personal statement for medical school

A successful career in the medical field is not built on your accomplishments alone. As a practicing physician, you must be able to interact with people that can help you make an illustrious career in medicine  - your patients and your colleagues. Though a bedside manner is a typical trait that doctors should possess, there may be some individuals who might need a little reminder on what a little socialization and people skills can do for them.

Improving doctor-patient relationship

Though it’s usually kids who need to be won over by unfamiliar faces, doctors need to portray friendliness toward older patients as well. Doctors do this to gain the patient’s trust and once this trust is achieved, the healing process can begin. If you can get your patient to talk to you about what he or she has been feeling, you can do your job easier by making quick diagnoses and administering the proper treatment. Patients would find it easier to disclose what they are feeling to doctors who are approachable and seem genuinely willing to help.

Improving relationships with colleagues

Unless you’re a one-man team doing private practice in your fully-equipped private clinic, you’d have to interact favorably with other people as well. Hospitals employ other medical professionals who have different duties and tasks assigned to them. All of these people in one way or another help you in performing your duties as a physician. It’s important to foster good relationships with people in the workplace, including nurses, technicians, orderlies, and watch guards. Aside from forging a good working relationship with your colleagues, some of them may even wind up as life-long friendships that could enrich your life in many other aspects. Of course, be prepared to give as well, starting with complimenting and thanking them for a job well done.

It’s not enough to do a good job in operation table. To touch other people’s lives, you must do what you can to reach out and help.

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Not everyone who studied medicine for nearly a decade get to pursue a hospital career . Their medicine degrees, however, won’t be put to waste as the corporate world opens new doors to a different career path. Here are some positions where medical graduates are key players:

Genetic counseling

Genetics has become a tool for more than just tracing bloodlines. As a genetics counselor, a doctor confers with patients with genetic histories of disorders. Medical information about their background, analysis of their genetic patterns, and assessing the risks of disorders recurring in the present or future generation are done by genetics counselors. This position not only requires clinical duty, but also practice professional sympathy by providing emotional support and counseling. Medical graduates who want to go into this profession should have at least taken units of genetics, biology, psychology, and public health.

Medical examiner

After the success of many police-medical dramas and TV series, a lot of people, including medical students, have turned their aspirations toward becoming another Jordan Cavanaugh of Crossing Jordan or Dr. Al Robbins of CSI. These characters portrayed medical examiners employed by the police to investigate cases. Instead of pulling out stories from live patients, medical examiners find out the truth from the dead. The evidence culled by medical examiners play key  roles in investigations as they can also be called to court to testify and present their findings. For those who want to enjoy a CSI-esque career, be prepared to take up or brush up on physiology, anatomy, pathology, biochemistry, and your carving skills.

Everybody wants to make a difference or make their mark in this world. Even when not in a hospital setting that doesn’t mean you can’t help others anymore. A medical degree can take you a long way, in whatever track you might want to pursue.

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By devoting hours meant for sleeping to studying in med school, you may be considered a “night owl”. But instead of looking for prey, med school owls keep their eyes on sheet after sheet of class readings, in preparation for the next day’s exam or recitation. While this may seem like the norm in med school, it’s a sorry state to be in especially if your health and class standing is put at risk. Here are a few tips to make all-nighters in med school easy as counting sheep.

Stay away from the sugar

While sugar and caffeine-laden food and drinks do keep you up, these affect your concentration the following day. Instead of downing pots of black coffee or consuming a big bag of candy-covered chocolates on the eve of an exam, try snacking on protein-rich food. Food rich in protein such as cheese can help increase your memory skills. Try snacking on crisp fresh fruits such as apples and pears for a natural pick-me-up effect minus the calories.

Catch some Zzz’s

Though this goes against the whole idea of an all-nighter, grab some sleep if you can. If you just want to take a nap, wake up, and go on studying, ask a classmate to wake you up at a desired time. As a medical student, you should already know that not getting enough sleep or rest can be detrimental to you. Not only will your health suffer from it, but you’ll also  tend to perform poorly during daytime. Your concentration and moods are affected, the same way that your decision-making skills may be impaired due to the lack of sleep.

Frequent all-nighters can be avoided if you pay attention to your classes and find time to study during the day. Studies even show that students who pull all-nighters frequently just waste their efforts, as they become more prone to low GPAs. Don’t let all-nighters be your cover up for procrastinating, instead do what you need to do as soon as you can.

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Hospital dramas and shows have engrossed many viewers and made notable personalities such as Dr. McDreamy of Grey’s Anatomy and Dr. House of House, M.D. a household name. Audiences are entertained and educated with various medical conditions, diagnoses, and treatments that are  featured in the captivating scenes of these medical shows. Despite the entertainment they provide, some viewers may be left in the dark when it comes to the hierarchy of the characters or hospital staff, say in ER or in Scrubs. Here’s a quick rundown of the titles carried by medical practitioners::

Chief attending

Dr. Richard Webber of Grey’s Anatomy carries the title of big honcho. As chief attending, he is responsible for keeping the entire hospital department running smoothly. The chief attending is considered the boss who makes big decisions or confers with the other big bosses (such as the private owners) for running the hospital.

Attending physicians

Attending physicians are doctors who have gained some experience in their field of specialization. This title may be assigned after finishing a certain period of training for the said specialization. Attending physicians may also head or hold officership positions in their sub-departments. They are responsible for heading a team of residents and interns as well. Attending physicians may conduct courses to interns in teaching hospitals.

Medical residents

Newly-proclaimed doctors, fresh from board and internship exams, are proclaimed medical residents in a hospital. They are doctors who can practice medicine under the watch of their supervisors, the attending physicians, and can now legally attend to patients. Medical residents do their fare share of teaching through medical interns.

Medical interns

After graduating from med school, you can start working in a hospital under the title of medical intern. Medical interns, though, are not yet licensed to practice medicine but are only allowed to observe and participate or “scrub in” for medical and surgical procedures.

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So what makes a doctor good? Is it the brains? Is it the people skills? Or, is it because one came  from a reputable medical academic institution such as Harvard Medical School? Read on for a list of some of the qualities that help doctors become successful in the field despite the erratic schedules and the heavy caseloads.

Doctors must be people persons

Aside from being a medical maverick and genius, good doctors also need to have people skills, especially when interacting with a lot of patients, who may be confused or emotionally befuddled about their conditions.  Breaking the bad news is also never easy for most doctors. Though this part of the job is also described as one of the hardest tasks doctors do, learning how to tell family members the right way takes time and experience.

Doctors must pay attention to detail

Dr. House is deemed the medical Sherlock Holmes due to his keen observations skills. In the TV series, House makes use of psychology and take hints his patients’ lives. Real-life doctors, on the other hand, should possess the same dogged interest even in the little things such as lumps that could turn into cancer or a twitch that may actually be a symptom of a life-threatening disease. Attention to detail makes the job of doctors easier, allowing them to diagnose and treat patients more effectively.

Doctors must value time and use it wisely

You don’t outgrow your schedules when you graduate from med school. In fact, doctors are known to lead such scheduled lives to make sense of all the things happening around them. Time management skills could be honed while still studying in med school. Consider making a time table of the things that you need to do such as studying for pharmacology from 8pm to 10pm. Be sure to accomplish your tasks up to 10pm, so you could go to that late dinner, have a night cap with friends, or hit the sack right after. Setting a deadline also encourages doctors to think faster and come up with solutions even in a short time.

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Being a medical student and a dutiful wife at the same time can prove to be a very challenging act. Both roles need your utmost commitment as each demands your dedication. With a new addition to the family, your attention is further divided. So how do you juggle these important roles?

Juggling spousal responsibilities and medical school work

As a wife, you are expected to provide a home for your husband. Though you two have pledged to take care of each other, a woman does so by setting up and maintaining a household for her husband. As a medical student, an extra load is added to your usual set of household chores. To be able to study for med school, you may look for domestic help if you can afford to. Having someone help out with the chores can free up more time for you to study without being too harassed.

Balancing marriage, medical school work, and parenting

It is always a struggle when a woman tries to do things for herself even though she has a family to take care of. Sadly, more women let go of their dreams because of the difficulty of this situation. Still, there are ways for you to compromise when facing a similar situation. Organize your activities by making a schedule. Plot your study sessions in convenient times like when your child is asleep or at school. Just don’t forget to spend quality time with your spouse and child every chance you get. Though it is important for you to study hard for medical school, it is also important that you be there for your child when he or she needs you the most.

If you are yet to start expanding your family of two, it would be wise to wait a few more years until you graduate or settle into your practice before having a baby. Though a baby will not spoil your prospects of becoming a doctor, the role of a parent would demand more from you. Having a baby after finishing medical school not only ensures that your studies have your undivided attention, but lets you savor the time as a parent without having to worry about your finals. Being married while in med school need not be as taxing as it seems to be, with someone to go home to after every day.

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Most of the students who get into med school took up science or pre-med courses in their undergrad years. In college, biology, organic chemistry, and other science subjects have prepared them for the rigors of medical school. But how about people with non-science courses who also find a calling for medical practice? The truth is, the medical title is not entirely exclusive to those with science majors. But before setting high hopes for a career shift, there are medical school prerequisites that still have to fulfilled with non-science majors.

Science courses required in medical school

It’s not really a requirement to have a be science major just to get into med school. Despite this claim, certain science courses should have been taken by the applicant to be eligible for enrollment. Units in biology, chemistry, physics, and math are required. Most medical schools also have grade requirements for these subjects. Basic psychology courses can be helpful for students aspiring to specialize in psychiatry. Other non-science courses such as English, history, and humanities are also required.

Admission essay tips for non-science majors

Truth be told, science majors have the upper hand over non-science majors when it comes to experience and knowledge. Due to their exposure to the scientific studies, which include laboratory and field work, they may perform well in the application exams. Still, you may secure a coveted spot in med school admission through your winning admission essay. Most medical schools require the submission of  personal statements to evaluate applicants on a more personal level. Use this opportunity to state your intentions and convince the admissions panel why they should take consider  non-science major like you. Though science majors are preferred undergrad courses  for medical school, your non-science major can still help you out even in med school.

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Before getting into med school, many students have set their minds on the specializations they wish to take in their residency. In fact, they may even include their field of interest in their personal statement for medical school. Stating the field of specialization in your personal statement for medical school may show how career-oriented you are. Choosing your specialization, however, can be an arduous task with numerous areas to choose from and different factors to consider.  To aid you in making the right choice, here a few of the most competitive areas of specializations that are popular with medical students at the moment.

Dermatology

Doctors practicing dermatology are raking in profits, as people today are becoming more aware of their skin health and overall appearance. Though dermatologists provide medical advice on skin care and the preservation or enhancement of physical beauty, most skin specialists also make assessments and prescribe treatments that go beyond skin deep. Serious skin conditions such as psoriasis, impetigo, dermatitis, eczema, melanoma, and even the full-blown kind of acne are treated by dermatologists. Many doctors decide to specialize in dermatology for the promise of higher salaries, with patients who are willing to pay large amounts for vanity’s sake and treatment of skin problems.

Neurosurgery

Another complex organ of the body that requires proper care and attention is the brain. Neurosurgery is the new rocket science that many brave medical students are gearing up for. It would be best to think of neurosurgery as the most delicate specialization, as this involves not only the study of the brain, but also performing delicate operations on it. A doctor who aims to specialize in neurosurgery should be well-versed with the symptoms, sicknesses, and treatments that affect the brain. They also need to have good locomotor skills in able to operate on patients. Handling the most powerful yet most delicate organ of the human body entails precision and well-calculated movements, as a slip can already have dire consequences.

Those who wish to specialize in neurosurgery would normally talk passionately about the challenge of this practice in their personal statement for medical school. Medical professionals who are brave enough to face the risks of performing operations may specialize in this field of medicine.

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You thought the worst was over once you got into a residency at a hospital. Still, choosing an area of expertise is another tough decision for doctors to make. There are a variety of specializations to choose from. Here are some of the more popular choices of expertise:

* Pediatrics

Kids are cute and fragile. Because their immune systems are not yet as strong as adults’, most of them tend to get sick or acquire some illness or another. Pediatrics is a popular choice for doctors to specialize in it, probably because of the natural urge to care for children. Pediatrics, however, means more than just listening to heartbeats and breathing patterns. Pediatricians must master the art of reaching out to their young patients, who usually dread trips to the doctor’s office. Aside from diagnosing the illness and prescribing  medicines for it, pediatricians also educate parents on the proper care of their children’s well-being. Pediatrics is also a lucrative specialization, as there can never be a shortage of children in most areas or of parents who pay large amounts for the well-being of their kids.

* Plastic surgery

Though vanity is oft-quoted as the root of all evil, many medical practitioners see man’s (or woman’s) quest for beauty as a very profitable specialization to venture into. Plastic surgery is one of the most popular specializations these days and also one of the hardest subjects to master and excel in. Aside from enhancing what one already has, plastic surgery also has a functional aspect by reconstructing body parts that have been deformed congenitally or through accidents. To some, plastic surgery is like an art form that uses the body as a canvas. Still, it’s more than just molding and reshaping body parts. Plastic surgery usually involves a major medical operation; with any operation, risks are involved. That’s why plastic surgeons have to take into account the patient’s condition, not only on the external appearance, but also based on the patient’s inner well-being.

* Obstetrics and gynecology

Female doctors also like to specialize in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, as most of them easily gain familiarity in this practice. The care and maintenance of female body parts contribute to the well-being of a woman and of her unborn child as well. This is also a lucrative specialization as doctors can be assured of a steadfast clientèle, with expectant mothers and non-pregnant women becoming more aware of the need to observe good reproductive health.

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Though movies often take viewers on journeys to the unfamiliar, some are modeled around real places and events. Films about medical school have engrossed viewers with sensationalized takes on the lives of medical interns and students. Here are top five movies revolving around the sleep-deprived and  adrenaline-charged arenas of medical study:

Of Human Bondage (1934)
Leslie Howards stars as struggling artist-turned- medical student Philip Carey in this movie of unreciprocated love. Bette Davis stars as the object of Carey’s affection, Mildred, a manipulative illiterate tearoom waitress, who haunts Carey’s daydreams in med school. This movie showcased Davis’ acting prowess as the overbearing Mildred whom Howards’ character is obsessively shackled to while completing med school.

Bad Medicine (1985)
After being rejected by every American medical school, Jeffrey Marx is sent off by his father to a medical school of questionable rank somewhere in Central America. Marx falls head over heels with a classmate but answers a noble calling by providing illegal medical assistance to the  poor villagers.

Gross Anatomy (1989)
Joe Slovak starts his first year in med school with a bang, his wayward manners earning him laughs from classmates and rebuke from his strict professor. See how Slovak deals with the rigors of med school, prove his worth to an overbearing teacher and win over a career-driven classmate’s heart while staying true to himself.

Vital Signs (1990)
While vying for internship in a hospital, a group of medical students realize that getting into hospitals isn’t as peachy as it seems. Two third year medical students from opposite sides of the spectrum try to garner the illustrious position, while nursing their own grievances. LA Central Medical school not only teaches them about easing other’s sufferings, but also their own.

Anatomy (2000)
Franka Potente stars in this German film about stellar student Paula Henning’s internship at the University of Heidelberg Medical School. When a second meeting with a man she rode on the train with happens on her dissecting table, Paula questions where and how the school procures its specimens. As a number of her classmates mysteriously drop dead along the length of the course, she discovers a secret group of students performing autopsies on live people.

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